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Warrant officer

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Warrant officer(WO) is arankor category of ranks in thearmed forcesof many countries. Depending on the country, service, or historical context, warrant officers are sometimes classified as the most junior of thecommissioned officerranks, the most senior of thenon-commissioned officer(NCO) ranks, or in a separate category of their own. Warrant officer ranks are especially prominent in the militaries ofCommonwealthnations and theUnited States.

The name of the rank originated inmedieval England.It was first used during the 13th century, in theRoyal Navy,where warrant officers achieved the designation by virtue of their accrued experience or seniority, and technically held the rank by awarrant,rather than by a formalcommission(as in the case of a commissioned officer). Nevertheless, WOs in the British services have traditionally been considered and treated as distinct from non-commissioned officers.

Warrant officers in the United Statesare classified in rank category "W", which is distinct from "O" (commissioned officers) and "E" (enlisted personnel,including non-commissioned officers). However,chief warrant officersare officially commissioned, on the same basis as commissioned officers, and take the same oath. US WOs are usually experts in a particular technical field, with long service as enlisted personnel; in some cases, however, direct entrants may become WOs—for example, individuals completing helicopter pilot training in theUS Army Aviation Branchbecome flight warrant officers immediately.

In Commonwealth countries, warrant officers have usually been included alongside NCOs andenlisted personnelin a category called other ranks (ORs), which is equivalent to the US "E" category (i.e. there is no separate "W" category in these particular services). In Commonwealth services, warrant officers rank betweenchief petty officerandsub-lieutenantin the navy, betweenstaff sergeantandsecond lieutenantin the army, and betweenflight sergeantandpilot officerin the air force.

Origins

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The warrant officer corps began in the nascentRoyal Navy,[1]which dates its founding to 1546. At that time, noblemen with military experience took command of the new navy, adopting the military ranks oflieutenantandcaptain.These officers often had no knowledge of life on board a ship—let alone how to navigate such a vessel—and relied on the expertise of the ship'smasterand other seamen who tended to the technical aspects of running the ship. As cannon came into use, the officers also required gunnery experts; specialist gunners began to appear in the 16th century and also had warrant officer status.[2]Literacy was one thing that most warrant officers had in common, and this distinguished them from the common seamen: according to theAdmiraltyregulations, "no person shall be appointed to any station in which he is to have charge of stores, unless he can read and write, and is sufficiently skilled in arithmetic to keep an account of them correctly". Since all warrant officers had responsibility for stores, this was enough to debar the illiterate.[3]

Rank and status in the 18th century

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In origin, warrant officers were specialist professionals whose expertise and authority demanded formal recognition.[3]In the 18th century they fell into two clear categories: on the one hand, those privileged to share with the commissioned officers in thewardroomand on thequarterdeck;and on the other, those who ranked with more junior members of the ship's crew.[4]Somewhere between the two, however, were thestanding officers,notable because, unlike the rest of the ship's company, they remained with the ship even when she was out of commission (e.g. for repair, refitting or replenishment, or whilst laid up); in these circumstances they were under the pay and supervision of theRoyal Dockyard.

Wardroom warrant officers

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These classes of warrant officer messed in thewardroomwith the commissioned officers:

  • themaster:the senior warrant officer, a qualified navigator and experienced seaman who set the sails, maintained theship's logand advised the captain on the seaworthiness of the ship and crew;
  • thesurgeon:who treated the sick and injured and advised the captain on matters of health;
  • thepurser:responsible for supplies,foodand pay for the crew.

In the early 19th century, they were joined in the wardroom by navalchaplains,who also had warrant officer status (though they were only usually present on larger vessels).

Standing warrant officers

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The standing officers were:[4]

  • theboatswain:responsible for maintenance of the ship's boats, sails, rigging, anchors and cables;
  • thecarpenter:responsible for maintenance of the ship's hull and masts;
  • thegunner:responsible for care and maintenance of the ship's guns andgunpowder.

Junior warrant officers

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Other warrant officers included surgeon's mates, boatswain's mates and carpenter's mates, sailmakers, armourers, schoolmasters (involved in the education of boys, midshipmen and others aboard ship) and clerks.Masters-at-arms,who had formerly overseen small-arms provision on board, had by this time taken on responsibility for discipline.

Warrant officers in context

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By the end of the century, the rank structure could be illustrated as follows (the warrant officers are underlined):

Relative ranks in the Royal Navy,c. 1810.Warrant officers are underlined in the chart.[5]

Demise of the royal naval warrants

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In 1843, thewardroomwarrant officers were given commissioned status, while in 1853 the lower-grade warrant officers were absorbed into the new rate ofchief petty officer,both classes thereby ceasing to be warrant officers. On 9 July 1864 the standing warrant officers were divided into two grades: warrant officers and chief warrant officers (or "commissioned warrant officers", a phrase that was replaced in 1920 with "commissioned officers promoted from warrant rank", although they were still usually referred to as "commissioned warrant officers", even in official documents).

By the time of theFirst World War,their ranks had been expanded with the adoption of modern technology in the Royal Navy to includetelegraphists,electricians,shipwrights,artificerengineers,etc. Both warrant officers and commissioned warrant officers messed in the warrant officers' mess rather than the wardroom (although in ships too small to have a warrant officers' mess, they did mess in the wardroom). Warrant officers and commissioned warrant officers also carried swords, were saluted byratings,and ranked betweensub-lieutenantsandmidshipmen.[2]

In 1949, the ranks of warrant officer and commissioned warrant officer were changed to "commissioned officer" and "senior commissioned officer", the latter ranking with but after the rank of lieutenant, and they were admitted to the wardroom, the warrant officers' messes closing down. Collectively, these officers were known as "branch officers", being retitled "special duties" officers in 1956. In 1998, the special duties list was merged with the general list of officers in the Royal Navy, all officers now having the same opportunity to reach the highest commissioned ranks.[2]

Modern usage

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Australia

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TheRoyal Australian Navyrank of warrant officer (WO) is the Navy's only rank appointed by warrant and is equivalent to the Army's WO1, and the RAAF's warrant officer. The most senior non-commissioned member of the Navy is theWarrant Officer of the Navy(WO-N), an appointment that is only held by one person at a time.[6]

TheAustralian Armyhas two warrant officer ranks: warrant officer class two (WO2) and warrant officer class one (WO1), the latter being senior in rank. The equivalent rank of WO2 in the Navy is nowchief petty officer,and the RAAF equivalent of the Army's WO2 is nowflight sergeant,although in the past there were no equivalents. All warrant officers are addressed as "sir" or "ma'am" by subordinates. To gain the attention of a particular warrant officer in a group, they can be addressed as "Warrant Officer Bloggs, sir/ma'am" or by their appointment, e.g. "ASM Bloggs, sir/ma'am". Some warrant officers hold an appointment such as company sergeant major (WO2) or regimental sergeant major (WO1). The warrant officer appointed to the position ofRegimental Sergeant Major of the Army(RSM-A) is the most senior enlisted soldier in the Australian Army and differs from other Army warrant officers in that their rank is just warrant officer (WO). The appointment of RSM-A was introduced in 1983. The rank insignia are: a crown for a WO2 (or a crown in a square on AMCU (camouflage uniform) rank slides); theAustralian Commonwealth Coat of Arms(changed from theRoyal Coat of Armsin 1976) for a WO1; and the Australian Commonwealth Coat of Arms surrounded by a laurel wreath for the RSM-A.[7][6]

TheRoyal Australian Air Forcerank of warrant officer (WOFF) is the RAAF's only rank appointed by warrant and is equivalent to both the Army's WO1 and the Navy's WO. The most senior non-commissioned member of the RAAF is theWarrant Officer of the Air Force(WOFF-AF), an appointment that is only held by one person at a time.[6]

Navy Army Air Force
Insignia
Title Warrant officer Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer
Abbreviation WO WO1 WOFF

Bangladesh

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  • Rank insignia
  • Master chief petty officer
  • Master warrant officer
  • Master warrant officer

Warrant officer is the lowestjunior commissioned officerrank in theBangladesh Army[8]andBangladesh Air Force,[9]ranking belowsenior warrant officerandmaster warrant officer.

Canada

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In theCanadian ArmyandRoyal Canadian Air Force,the cadre of warrant officers includes the specific ranks of warrant officer (French:adjudant),master warrant officer(adjudant-maître), andchief warrant officer(adjudant-chef). Before unification in 1968, there were two ranks of warrant officer (WO2 and WO1) in the Canadian Army and RCAF that followed the British structure.

  • Rank insignia
  • Insignia of a chief warrant officer
  • Insignia of a master warrant officer
  • Insignia of a warrant officer

India

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Junior commissioned officersare the Indian Armed Forces equivalent of warrant officer ranks. Those in theIndian Air Forceactually use the ranks of junior warrant officer, warrant officer and master warrant officer.

In theBritish Indian Army,warrant officer ranks existed but were restricted to British personnel, mostly in specialist appointments such asconductorandsub-conductor.Unlike in the British Army, although these appointments were warranted, the appointment and rank continued to be the same and the actual rank of warrant officer was never created. Indian equivalents wereviceroy's commissioned officers.

Junior commissioned officers[10]
Master warrant officer Warrant officer Junior warrant officer

Ireland

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Irish Naval Service

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Equivalent NATO Code OR-9

Ireland
Executive
Administrative
Engineering
Communications
Irish Oifigeach Barántais
English Warrant officer

Malaysia

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Main article:Malaysian military ranks

In theMalaysian Armed Forces,warrant officers (Malay:pegawai Waran) are the highest ranks for non commissioned officers.

Rank group Warrant officers
Malaysian Army[11]
Pegawai waran I Pegawai waran II
Royal Malaysian Navy[12]
Pegawai waran I Pegawai waran II
Royal Malaysian Air Force
Pegawai waran udara I Pegawai waran udara II
English Warrant officer class I Warrant officer class II

New Zealand

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TheNew Zealand Armyusage is the same as the British Army, having two ranks: warrant officer class two (WO2), addressed as "sergeant major", and warrant officer class one (WO1), addressed as "sir" or "ma'am". There are also appointments such as company and squadron sergeant major (CSM and SSM) which are usually WO2 positions and regimental sergeant major (RSM), which are usually WO1 positions. The highest ranking WO1 holds the position of Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA).

TheRoyal New Zealand Navyhas a single warrant officer rank, addressed as "sir" or "ma'am". This rank is equivalent to the Army WO1. The RNZN's highest-ranking warrant officer is the Warrant Officer of the Navy.

TheRoyal New Zealand Air Forcealso has a single warrant officer rank, equivalent to the Navy warrant officer, and the Army warrant officer class 1 (WO1). A warrant officer in the RNZAF is addressed as "sir" or "ma'am". Previously an aircrew warrant officer was known as master aircrew; however this rank and designation is no longer used. The RNZAF also has a post of Warrant Officer of the Air Force (WOAF), the most senior warrant officer position in the RNZAF.

There is also the Warrant Officer of the Defence Force (WODF). This appointment is held by a warrant officer class one (if the recipient originated from the New Zealand Army), or warrant officer (if the recipient originated from the Royal New Zealand Navy or the Royal New Zealand Air Force).

Singapore

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Boys' Brigade

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Main article:Boys' Brigade in Singapore § Ranks

The rank of warrant officer is the highest rank aBoys' Brigadeboy can attain insecondary school.

National Civil Defence Cadet Corps

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The rank of warrant officer is given to selected non-commissioned officers inNational Civil Defence Cadet Corpsunits. It is above the rank of staff sergeant, and below the rank of cadet lieutenant.[13]It is the highest rank a cadet can attain in the NCDCC while they are in secondary school. The rank insignia is one point-up chevron, aSingapore coat of arms,and a garland below.

Singapore Armed Forces

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In theSingapore Armed Forces,warrant officers begin as third warrant officers (3WO), previously starting at the rank of second warrant officer, abbreviated differently as WO2 instead. This rank is given to formerspecialistswho have attained the rank ofmaster sergeantand have either gone through, or are about to go through the Warfighter Course at the Specialist and Warrant Officer Advanced School (SWAS) in the Specialist and Warrant Officer Institute (SWI). In order to be promoted to a second warrant officer (2WO) and above, they must have been selected for and graduated from the joint warrant officer course at theSAFWOS Leadership School.[14]Warrant officers rank between specialists and commissioned officers. They ordinarily serve as battalion or brigaderegimental sergeant majors.Many of them serve as instructors and subject-matter experts in various training establishments. Warrant officers are also seen on the various staffs headed by the respective specialist officers. There are six grades of warrant officer (3WO, 2WO, 1WO, MWO, SWO and CWO).

Warrant officers used to have their own mess. For smaller camps, this mess is combined with the officers' mess. Warrant officers have similar responsibilities to commissioned officers.

Warrant officers are usually addressed asencik('mister' in Malay language) or as "warrant (surname)" or "encik(surname) ".[14]Exceptions to this are those who hold appointments. Warrant officers holding the appointment such ascommanding officer(CO) andofficer commanding(OC) are to be addressed as "sir" byother ranks,and those holdingsergeant majorappointments such as regimental sergeant major (RSM), company sergeant major (CSM), formation sergeant major (FSM), institute sergeant major (ISM) and the Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA) are to be addressed as "sergeant major" by other ranks. Also, all warrant officers holding the rank of chief warrant officer (CWO) are to be addressed as "sir" by other ranks. Since all warrant officers are non-commissioned officers, they are not saluted.

Although ceremonial swords are usually reserved forcommissioned officers,warrant officers of the rank of master warrant officer (MWO) and above are presented with ceremonial swords, but continue to carry thepace stick,with the sword sheathed during drills and parades.

Singapore Civil Defence Force

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In theSingapore Civil Defence Force,there are two warrant officer ranks. These ranks are (in order of ascending seniority) warrant officer (1) and warrant officer (2).[15]Previously, before the Home Team Unified Rank Scheme was introduced, there were two additional ranks of warrant officer, namely senior warrant officer (1) and senior warrant officer (2). Both ranks are now obsolete, although existing holders of these ranks were allowed to keep their rank.

South Africa

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South African National Defence Force

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In theSouth African National Defence Force,a warrant officer (WO) is set apart from those who hold a non-commissioned officer (NCO) rank. Warrant officers hold a warrant of appointment endorsed by the Minister of Defence. Warrant officers hold very specific powers, which are set out in the Defence Act and the Military Defence Supplementary Measures Act. Before 2008, there were two classes – warrant officer class 1 and 2. A warrant officer class 1 could be appointed to positions such as regimental sergeant major, formation sergeant major or Sergeant Major of the Army or Warrant Officer of the Navy. In 2008, five new warrant officer ranks were introduced above warrant officer class 1: senior warrant officer (SWO), master warrant officer (MWO), chief warrant officer (CWO), senior chief warrant officer (SCWO) and master chief warrant officer (MCWO).[16]

Rank group Warrant officer
South African
National Defence Force
Master chief warrant officer Senior chief warrant officer Chief warrant officer Master warrant officer Senior warrant officer Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2

South African Police Service

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In theSouth African Police Service,there is only a single warrant officer (WO) rank.

United Kingdom

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Main article:Warrant officer (United Kingdom)
TheRegimental Sergeant Majorof theRoyal Bermuda Regiment,WO1 Herman Eve, in 1992

Royal Navy

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WO2 badge
WO1 badge
Warrant officer classes of the Royal Navy

In 1973, warrant officers reappeared in theRoyal Navy,but these appointments followed the army model, with the new warrant officers being ratings rather than officers. They were initially known asfleet chief petty officers(FCPOs), but were renamed warrant officers in the 1980s. They rank with warrant officers class one in theBritish ArmyandRoyal Marinesand with warrant officers in theRoyal Air Force.[2]

There are executive warrant officers for commands and ships.[17]Five branches (surface ships, submarines, Royal Marines,Fleet Air Arm,andMaritime Reserves) each have a command warrant officer.[18]The senior RN WO is theWarrant Officer of the Royal Navy.[19][20]Under the Navy Command Transformation Programme, there are now aFleet Commander's Warrant Officer and aSecond Sea Lord's Warrant Officer, all working with theWarrant Officer of the Naval Service,taking over the roles of the Command Warrant Officers.[21][22][23]

In 2004, the rank of warrant officer class 2 was introduced. However, the rank was phased out in April 2014,[24]but is being reinstated for non-technical and technical branches of the Royal Navy in 2021.[25]

British Army

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Arm badge of aWO1 conductor RLC(British Army)

In theBritish Army,there are two warrant ranks, warrant officer class two (WO2) and warrant officer class one (WO1), the latter being the senior of the two. These ranks were previously abbreviated as WOII and WOI (using Roman instead of Indo-Arabic numerals). "Warrant officer first class" or "second class" is incorrect. The rank immediately below WO2 isstaff sergeant(orcolour sergeant).[2]From 1938 to 1940 there was a WOIIIplatoon sergeant majorrank.[26]

In March 2015, the new appointment ofArmy Sergeant Majorwas created, though the holder is not in fact a warrant officer but a commissioned officer holding the rank of captain.[27][28]The creation of the appointment ofcommand sergeant majorwas announced in 2009.[29]

Royal Marines

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Before 1879, theRoyal Marineshad no warrant officers:[30]by the end of 1881, the Royal Marines had given warrant rank to their sergeant-majors and some other senior non-commissioned officers, in a similar fashion to the army.[31]When the army introduced the ranks of warrant officer class I and class II in 1915, the Royal Marines did the same shortly after.[32]From February 1920, Royal Marines warrant officers class I (renamed warrant officers) were given the same status as Royal Navy warrant officers and the rank of warrant officer class II was abolished in the Royal Marines, with no further promotions to this rank.[33]

The marines had introduced warrant officers equivalent in status to the Royal Navy's from 1910 with the Royal Marines gunner (originally titled gunnery sergeant-major), equivalent to the navy's warrant rank of gunner.[34][35]Development of these ranks closely paralleled that of their naval counterparts: as in the Royal Navy, by the Second World War there were warrant officers and commissioned warrant officers (e.g.staff sergeant majors,commissioned staff sergeant majors, Royal Marines gunners, commissioned Royal Marines gunners, etc.). As officers, they were saluted by junior ranks in the Royal Marines and the army. These all became (commissioned) branch officer ranks in 1949, and special duties officer ranks in 1956. These ranks would return in 1972, this time similar to their army counterparts, and not as the RN did before. The most senior Royal Marines warrant officer is theCorps Regimental Sergeant Major.Unlike the RN proper (since 2014), it retains both WO ranks.

Royal Air Force

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TheRoyal Air Forcefirst used the ranks of sergeant major first and second class as inherited from theRoyal Flying Corps,with the rank badges of the Royal coat of arms and the crown respectively. In the 1930s, these ranks were renamed warrant officer class I and II as in the Army. In 1939, the RAF abolished the rank of WOII and retained just the WOI rank, referred to as just warrant officer (WO), which it remains to this day. The RAF has no equivalent to WO2 (NATO OR-8), an RAF WO being equivalent to WO1 (NATO OR-9) and wearing the same badge of rank, the Royal coat of arms. The correct way to address a warrant officer is "sir" or "ma'am" by airmen and "mister or warrant officer (surname)" by officers. Most RAF warrant officers do not hold appointments as in the army or Royal Marines; the exception to this is the station warrant officer, who is considered a "first amongst equals"on anRAF station.Warrant officer is the highest non-commissioned rank and ranks above flight sergeant.

In 1946, the RAF renamed its aircrew warrant officers to master aircrew, a designation which still survives. In 1950, it renamed warrant officers in technical trades to master technicians, a designation which survived only until 1964.

The most senior RAF warrant officer by appointment, although holding the same rank as other RAF warrant officers (OR9), is theWarrant Officer of the Royal Air Force,previously known as the Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer from the post's creation in 1996 until 2021.

United States

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Main article:Warrant officer (United States)
CW5 Robert Hart, Command Chief Warrant Officer,John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School,c. 2018

In theUnited States Armed Forces,a warrant officer (grade W-1 to W-5) is ranked as an officer above the senior-mostenlisted ranks,as well asofficer cadetsandofficer candidates,but below the officer grade ofO‑1(NATO: OF‑1). All warrant officers rate a salute[citation needed]from those ranked below them; i.e., the enlisted ranks. Warrant officers are highly skilled, single-track specialty officers, and while the ranks are authorized by Congress, each branch of the military selects, manages, and utilizes warrant officers in slightly different ways. For appointment to warrant officer (W-1), normally awarrantis approved by the service secretary of the respective branch of service. However, appointment to this rank can come via commission by thePresident,but this is less common. For the chief warrant officer ranks (CW‑2 to CW‑5), these warrant officers are commissioned by the President. Both warrant officers and chief warrant officers take the same oath of office as regularcommissioned officers(O-1 to O-10).[36]

A small number of warrant officers commanddetachments,units,activities, vessels, aircraft, and armored vehicles, as well as lead, coach, train, and counsel subordinates. However, the warrant officer's primary task is to serve as a technical expert, providing valuable skills, guidance, and expertise to commanders and organizations in their particular field.[36]

All U.S. armed services employ warrant officer grades except theU.S. Space Force.Although still technically authorized, theU.S. Air Forcediscontinued appointing new warrant officers in 1959, retiring its last chief warrant officer from theAir Force Reservein 1992. Space Force inherited the same lack of warrant officers from the Air Force, although its inauguralChief Master Sergeant,Roger A. Towberman,stated in a January 2021 interview that Space Force would study the issue and decide whether or not to introduce them. In February 2024, U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General David W. Allvin announced that the Air Force will re-introduce the warrant officer rank within the information technology and cyber fields as a way to maintain technical leadership with those skills. The first class of 78 future warrant officers were selected in August and began training at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, in October 2024.[37][38]

TheU.S. Armyutilizes warrant officers heavily[a]and separates them into two types: Aviators and technical. Army aviation warrant officers pilot both rotary-wing and fixed wing aircraft and represent the largest group of Army warrant officers. Technical warrant officers in the Army specialize in a single branch technical area such as intelligence, sustainment, supply, military police, or special forces; and provide advice and support to commanders. For example, a military police officer and a military intelligence officer both have to be branch qualified in their respective fields, learning how to manage the entire spectrum of their profession. However, within those broad fields warrant officers include such specialists asCID Special Agents(a very specific track within the military police) andCounterintelligence Special Agents(a very specific track within military intelligence). These technical warrant officers allow for a soldier with subject matter expertise (like non-commissioned officers), but with the authority of a commissioned officer. Both technical and aviation warrant officers go through initial training and branch assignment at the ArmyWarrant Officer Candidate School(WOCS), followed by branch-specific training and education paths. Technical warrant officers are generally selected from the non-commissioned officer ranks (typically E-6 through E-9). Aviation warrant officer candidates can apply from all branches of service, including junior enlisted and non-prior service civilians (aviation warrant officers join through the Warrant Officer Flight Training Program).

TheU.S. NavyandU.S. Coast Guarddiscontinued the grade of W-1 in 1975, appointing and commissioning all new entrants as chief warrant officer two (pay grade W-2, with rank abbreviation of CWO2). This was to prevent a pay decrease that an entrant may take since all Navy chief warrant officers are selected strictly from thechief petty officerpay grades (E-7 through E-9). The Coast Guard allows E-6 personnel to apply for chief warrant officer rank, but only after they have displayed their technical ability by earning a placement in the top 50% on the annual eligibility list for advancement to E-7. In 2018, the U.S. Navy expanded the warrant program, re-implementing the W-1 pay grade for cyber warrant officers and accepting three new WO1s in fiscal year 2019.[39]This was further expanded in 2020 when the Navy introduced the Air Vehicle Pilot (AVP) program. Personnel commissioning as AVPs will be awarded the rank of W-1.[40]

Warrant officers in the Army holding the rank of warrant officer 1 (WO1) are formally addressed as "Mr/Ms" [last name]. Upon promotion to chief warrant officer 2, "Chief" becomes an additional authorized term of address. WO1s are informally addressed as "Chief" by many soldiers as well. In the Navy, warrant officers are typically addressed as "Mr/Ms" [last name], "Chief Warrant Officer", or informally as "Warrant" regardless of their grade.

TheU.S. Maritime Service(USMS), which is established at 46 U.S. Code § 51701, falls under the authority of the Maritime Administration of the Department of Transportation and is authorized to appoint warrant officers. In accordance with 46 U.S. Code § 51701, the USMS rank structure must be the same as that of the U.S. Coast Guard while uniforms worn are those of the U.S. Navy with distinctive USMS insignia and devices. The USMS has appointed warrant officers, of various specialty fields, during and after World War II.[41][42]

Warrant officer rank is also occasionally used in law enforcement agencies to grant status and pay to certain senior specialist officers who are not in command, such as senior technicians or helicopter pilots. As in the armed forces, they rank above sergeants, but below lieutenants. For example, theNorth Carolina State Highway Patrolhad several warrant officer helicopter pilot positions from the 1960s until the mid-1980s. The WO insignia was a silver bar with a black square in the center. The WO ranks were abolished when the aviation program expanded and nearly twenty trooper pilot positions were created.TheNew York State Policerank of technical lieutenant is similar to a warrant officer rank insofar as it is used to grant commissioned officer authority to non-commissioned officers with extensive technical expertise.

Modern insignia and grades of warrant officers of the U.S. military
Service CW5 or CWO5 CW4 or CWO4 CW3 or CWO3 CW2 or CWO2 WO1
Army
U.S. Army chief warrant officer 5 rank insignia
U.S. Army chief warrant officer 4 rank insignia
U.S. Army chief warrant officer 3 rank insignia
U.S. Army chief warrant officer 2 rank insignia
U.S. Army warrant officer 1 rank insignia
Air Force
U.S. Air Force chief warrant officer 5 rank insignia
U.S. Air Force chief warrant officer 4 rank insignia
U.S. Air Force chief warrant officer 3 rank insignia
U.S. Air Force chief warrant officer 2 rank insignia
U.S. Air Force warrant officer 1 rank insignia
Marine Corps
USMC chief warrant officer 5 rank insignia
USMC chief warrant officer 4 rank insignia
USMC chief warrant officer 3 rank insignia
USMC chief warrant officer 2 rank insignia
USMC warrant officer 1 rank insignia
Navy
U.S. Navy chief warrant officer 5 rank insignia
U.S. Navy chief warrant officer 4 rank insignia
U.S. Navy chief warrant officer 3 rank insignia
U.S. Navy chief warrant officer 2 rank insignia
U.S. Navy warrant officer 1 rank insignia
Coast Guard
 Established in 1994; not implemented
U.S. Coast Guard chief warrant officer 4 rank insignia
U.S. Coast Guard chief warrant officer 3 rank insignia
U.S. Coast Guard chief warrant officer 2 rank Insignia
 Discontinued in 1975
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Warrant officer

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Warrant officer class 2

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Warrant officer class 1

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^seeSenior Warrant Officer Advisory CouncilCW4 Richard C. Myers and CW5 Todd M. Boudreau (Spring 2011) Charging toward an even brighter future

References

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  1. ^Welsh, David R. (2006).Warrant: The Legacy of Leadership as a Warrant Officer.Nashville, Tennessee: Turner Publishing Company. p. 6.ISBN978-1-59652-053-0.
  2. ^abcde"A Brief History of Warrant Rank in the Royal Navy".Naval-History.Net.Retrieved7 April2010.
  3. ^abLavery, Brian (1989).Nelson's Navy: The Ships, Men and Organization.Annapolis, Md: Naval Institute Press. p.100.ISBN0-87021-258-3.
  4. ^ab"Information sheet no 096: Naval Ranks"(PDF).National Museum of the Royal Navy.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 23 September 2015.
  5. ^Lavery, Brian (1989).Nelson's Navy: The Ships, Men and Organization.Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. p.136.ISBN0-87021-258-3.
  6. ^abc"Defence Force Regulations 1952".ComLaw.Australian Office of Parliamentary Counsel.Retrieved4 June2012.
  7. ^"Australian Defence Force Badges of Rank and Special Insignia".Australian Government Department of Defence.Retrieved19 March2007.
  8. ^"Rank Categories".Bangladesh Army.Retrieved24 September2019.
  9. ^"BAF Ranks".Bangladesh Army.Archived fromthe originalon 7 August 2020.Retrieved24 September2019.
  10. ^"For Airmen".Indian Air Force.Archived fromthe originalon 25 February 2012.Retrieved23 September2021.
  11. ^"Kategori Pangkat"(in Malagasy).Malaysian Army.Archived fromthe originalon 28 September 2021.Retrieved10 July2021.
  12. ^"RMN other ranks".Royal Malaysian Navy.Archived fromthe originalon 11 July 2021.Retrieved11 July2021.
  13. ^"National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC) / National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC )".uniforminsignia.org.Retrieved20 November2018.
  14. ^ab"History Snippets, 1992 – The SAF Warrant Officer School".MINDEF.7 January 2007.Retrieved19 March2007.
  15. ^"Ranks and drill commands".Central Manpower Base.Singapore Ministry of Defence.Retrieved26 November2018.
  16. ^"Minister approves new ranks for Warrant Officers"(PDF).South African Soldier.South Africa Department of Defence.September 2008. p. 17. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 4 March 2016.Retrieved8 January2014.
  17. ^"The Executive Warrant Officer"(PDF).Royal Navy.4 October 2013. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 4 October 2013.
  18. ^"The Command Warrant Officer (Cwo)"(PDF).Royal Navy.4 October 2013. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 4 October 2013.
  19. ^"Warrant Officer in a class of his own".Royal Navy.24 April 2013.
  20. ^"New Base Warrant Officer at Culdrose".Fleet Air Arm Officers Association. 2 October 2013.
  21. ^"The Semaphore Circular May 2020".Royal Naval Association.1 May 2020.Retrieved18 July2020.Our source was the Fleet Commander's Warrant Officer, a newly created post and itself part of the Navy Command Transformation programme. WO Mick Turnbull works alongside the Warrant Officer of the Naval Service as well as First and Second Sea Lords WOs. This is a change from the former situation where each fighting arm (Surface Ships, Submarines, Royal Marines, Reserves and Fleet Air Arm) had its own WO. It is one part of a shift to a whole naval force focus
  22. ^"Navy News March 2020"(PDF).Royal Navy.1 March 2020.Retrieved18 July2020.Helping to deliver transformation is the new Warrant Officer of the Naval Service, WO1 Carl 'Speedy' Steedman. He will be working with the holders of two brand new positions; Second Sea Lord's Warrant Officer, WO1 Ian Wilson and Fleet Commander's Warrant Officer, WO1 Mick Turnbull, together with the RM Corps RSM, WO1 Dave Mason.
  23. ^"Command Warrant Officers".Navy Command Secretariat. 18 August 2020.Retrieved22 August2020– viaWhatDoTheyKnow.
  24. ^"Single rate for warrant officers"(PDF).201401 Navy News Jan 14.Royal Navy.p. 35.Retrieved29 February2020.
  25. ^@WO1MickTurnbull (2 February 2021)."Good afternoon the WO2 rank was kept in Service for the Royal Marines and Submariner engineers. However as part of Royal Navy Transformation the WO2 Rank has now been introduced across the Service. The first recipients were notified on 18 Jan 21 and others have now been selected"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
  26. ^Banham, Tony (2006).The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru: Britain's Forgotten Wartime Tragedy.Hong Kong University Press.p. 272.ISBN978-962-209-771-1.
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  29. ^Jones, Bruce (1 February 2015)."CGS outlines new British Army senior posts amid culling of generals".Jane's Defence Weekly.
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  31. ^"Warrant Officers".The London Gazette.No. 25044. 2 December 1881. p. 6466.
  32. ^"Whereas there was this day read at the Board a Memorial from the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty..."The London Gazette.No. 29364. 12 November 1915. p. 11174.
  33. ^"Whereas there was this day read at the Board a Memorial from the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty... Schedule V, Section X: Miscellaneous Provisions".The London Gazette.No. 31765. 3 February 1920. p. 1414.Retrieved 26 May 2023/
  34. ^"Whereas there was this day read at the Board a Memorial from the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty..."The London Gazette.No. 28437. 15 November 1910. p. 8163.
  35. ^"Whereas there was this day read at the Board a Memorial from the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty..."The London Gazette.No. 30131. 15 June 1917. p. 5870.
  36. ^ab"Warrant Officer History".U.S. Army Warrant Officer Career Center. Archived fromthe originalon 24 June 2007.Retrieved18 March2007.
  37. ^"Space Force Senior Enlisted Advisor Talks Future of Enlisted Force".U.S. Department of Defense.Retrieved4 July2022.
  38. ^Lopez, Todd (14 February 2024)."Air Force to re-introduce warrant officer rank, other major changes".United States Air Force.
  39. ^"Navy Expands Cyber Warrant Program".Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs,United States Navy.
  40. ^US Navy (2020)."NAVADMIN 315/20".MyNavyHR.
  41. ^46 U.S.C.§ 51701(c) Ranks, Grades, and Ratings.— The ranks, grades, and ratings for personnel of the Service shall be the same as those prescribed for personnel of the Coast Guard.
  42. ^"United States Maritime Service Insignia of Rank and Distinctive Devices and Uniforms".U.S. Merchant Marine and the U.S. Maritime Service.2002. Archived fromthe originalon 20 August 2008.Retrieved1 August2017.
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  53. ^ab"Rank structure".spdf.sc.Seychelles People's Defence Forces.Retrieved4 June2021.
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